Curtain for wardrobe sections of luggage



April 1938- A. KAUFMANN CURTAIN FOR WARDROBE SECTIONS LUGGAGE Filed Feb. 10, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 26, 1938. A, A FMANN 2,115,334

CURTAIN FOR WARDROBE SECTIONS OF LUGGAGE Filed Feb. 10, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Md ATTORNEY.

April 26, 1938. A. KAUFMANN 2,115,334

CURTAIN FOR WARDROBE SECTIONS OF LUGGAGE Filed Feb. 10, 1956 '5 Sheets-Sheet :5

IN VENTOR.

a ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 26, 1938 CURTAIN FOR.

PATENT OFFICE WARDROBE SECTIONS OF LUGGAGE Ary Kaufmann, South Orange, N. J., assignor to K. Kaufmann & 00., 1110.,

Jersey a. corporation of New Application February 10, 1936, Serial No. 63,126

, 2 Claims.

' This invention relates to improvements in luggage, and the invention hasreference, more'particularly, to a" novel construction and arrangement of curtain closure for the wardrobe sections of luggage. I I

' In many types'of modern luggage carriers, both of the larger'kinds such 'as wardrobe trunks and in the hand 'or suitcase types of such carriers, means are provided for supporting garments in neatly and compactly arranged condition within a separate section or compartment of the trunk or case; and in the hand luggage carriers such compartment is usually provided in connection with the cover section which is hinged to the main body of the case, a folding garment supporting frame of some sort being provided for supporting the garments and for moving the same'into and out of the cover interior or compartment formed thereby.

It is an object of this'invention to provide a novel arrangement andconstruction of curtain closure to cover the'garments when folded into and supported within thec'ompartment in which the same are*to"be, carried; I the'novel curtain closure while broadly applicable to the garment containing section or compartment of'an'y type of luggage carrier, is devised to offer especial advantages and adaptability as applied to the garment containing sections or compartments of hand luggage in the forms adapted for use by either ladies or gentlemem Another object of this invention is'to provide a curtain closure which is elastically extensible, so as to draw snugly over the garments when the latter are folded into'the receiving compartment therefor; I

Another object 'of this invention is to provide means for securing the curtain closure in elastically stretched and closed condition; and, more 49 specifically, the invention includes anovel curtain closure means cooperative with the collapsible stays which support the cover section of the carrier in open relation to the main body section thereof. 4.5 Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will become apparent 'in' the following detailed description of the same. I

Illustrative embodiments of this invention are 59 shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which:-- I

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a hand luggage carrier, the cover section of which provides a garment receiving compartment, the novel curtain closure means being provided in connection with said cover section, and being shown as released subject to being thrown back over the margin of said-cover section (as indicated by dotted lines), to thereby disclose and give access to the garment supporting means; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the curtain closure means secured in its closed condition; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 33 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken on line 44 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4A. is a similar view of the luggage carrier closed and the curtain closure secured in its covering relation to the cover section of said luggage carrier.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing a modified form of curtain closure securing means, and Fig. 6 is also a View similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing a modified form of curtain closure means.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character I0 indicates the main body section of a hand luggage carrier, and II indicates the cover section which is pivotally connected therewith by any suitable form of hinge connection I2, so as to open and close relative to said main bodysection. The body section is provided with the customary carrying handle I3, and cooperative locking elements I4. Cooperative with the cover section interior is any suitable form of garment supporting frame I5, many types and kinds of which are now familiar to the luggage industry. Connected between the interior faces of the side walls of main body section Ill and cover section II, at each side of the carrier, are collapsible stay means, each set thereof comprising an arm I6 pivotally connected to the main body section, and an arm I! pivotally connected to the cover section, the meeting ends of said arms I6II being pivotally joined together at-I8 and being provided with means for yieldably holding the same in extended cover section supporting relation, as shown in Fig. 4, when said cover section is opened.

The novel curtain closure means, in one form thereof as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, comprises a curtain body I9 which is preferably made of textile material, suitably secured by its upper end to the inside of the flange at the free end of said carrier cover section I I. Extending longitudinally from top to bottom ends of said curtain body I 9, at least adjacent to each side marginal portion of the latter, and if desired, at one" or more points laterally intermediate said side marginal portions, are elastic membersor straps 20 which are capable of longitudinal extension and contraction.

' These elastic members or straps may be of any'suitable material or form so long as the same, 7 I contract longitudinally, For example, the'same may consist of lengths'of special metallic springs,

' elastic rubber straps, woven-textile" and rubber body, as related to the elastic 20, ,is shirred so as to be straps, or the like. Ihe' material foflfthe curtain members or straps ered transversely,xbeing thlls'capable gf longitudinal extension-and contraction irf'company' with longitudinal stretch and contraction of said elastic members or straps 20,1The'upperends of .1. said elastic members .or straps w-are anchored together with the upper end offsaid curtain body .19 to the free end of saidcarriercover section) I The lower free ,end of the curtain body l9 and? the lower endsof said elastic member'sor straps a e u b se r d m ara ely i d transverse bottom bar Preferably said bott'om bar 2| is enclosed ma whichis doubled therearound sdtnat the 1 V aportions of thecurtainbodyElB.andjel'asticmem bersor straps 2a are rceived betweenthupper m mwomn' s st ndm i' m e and thus secured. or anchored theretoby stitching 24 Preferablmbut not necessarily, thecurtain body comprises two lplies foimaterial, between which said elastic memberisorstraps were i posed. Suitably secured and pro ecting end-e wise from the respective Lends on said. bottom: bar

.2! are headed studs orf'lateh page; The'curthe form thus described,

tain closure means, n

isj'when released and contracted to' its length, somewhat less in length 'lthahthe distance between the marginsof the carrierlcover 'section between which the same e ten s, Thearms l1 or the l collapsible staymans; with; which the mainbody cover s'ectionof tilelcarnems mg vided; are each provided I with :{latch stud" or pin receiving slots/26 having entrance jrnouths 21 at the lower ends thereof; whichturn outwardly to open through the'upperforl outer margin ofithe arm 11.

provided with laterally ioffset seats. 28';

' merits. T01 secure the curtain: bodyinln'closed condition, the bottornfbar. 2|.-,is grasped and pulled downward, i V

' a curtain' body, i so carrier cover, section H; as she V 3. The ,carrierfcov'er section swung-down into ."closedjrel id toljmain section" 10 of"the caririer', th

When garments'zare i nan ed n I'folded an supported relation tothe frame-i5, and fd'isposed with the latter within the interior of Qthe carrier cover section H', the; curtain body I 9 is dropped downwardito extend over? the thus"disposed ;gar-

thereby longitudinally stretch:

ing the; elastic 'rmemb'er s ior; straps and J the v c .7 r i o ers-ere Pl ced" under tension; and in'so doing the studs or latch that, .th

pins 25 are thereupon respectivelyfbi oughti op; posite the entrance mouthsfll offthe: respective receiving slots 26, and arepushed'laterally, into th'latter. Uponfaecomplishing this, the bottom bar 2 l is released sq that longitudinal Ecoritrfalc be held thereby, and that theifcurco ering thin the relation to the. gar msd wn'ienin. v.

, mayn' wr e possess ability to stretch and V ceiving' slots'fl'and their seats resisted. r

somewhat loosely gathe binding member 22, 1 n

' release thecurtain closure.

At their inner ends, said slots zfi are ing relation (See'Fig'. 4A) gana-since'tneeiasftic members or straps remain under sometem sion tending to longitudinally contract the same,

all tendencies of the lower end of the curtain;

body Hi to accidentally release itself from se cured condition as obtained by the engaged relation of the studs or latch pins with the re-' 28 is adequately One advantage which is especially attained by V the above described preferred arrangement of curtain. closure securing means, lies in thefact ithat a slot-like space 29 may be left between the "lower end of the secured curtain closure and the adjacent marginleof the carrier cover section II =where it1joinstherearendof said carrier main body l0, so that in the event extra long garments,

.;,such-e. g, as ladies gowns, ar'e packed, projecting extremities thereofmay be allowed to extend through said slot-like space within the rear interior portion of the carrier malinibofdy 1o;

] Referring toFi g, shown there curtain closure in covering"relationito the gar-: ments packed into the carrier coversection I I."

29 for disposition,

fn odifie'd arrangement of'i'neans for sequr ngme 'Ihi'sarrahgement compris's {a hook-like j'fas- 'tefneri. 30 centrally secured to thejhingeld end of carrier cover section II. Secured to said bottom bar 2] byfast'rap 3| .adapted'to adjustably en gageits slotted-buckle end '32 is-an eye-member 33 adapted 'tobe engagedand disengaged lfrom tainclosure securingjmeans may be utilized with-Q inlthe broader aspects of this invention)? QReIer'ring' .toiFig. ,6, rnodifledform of curtain closure str'uctu're per se, the same comprising amain lower' margin of which is" secured, by stitching ror in any other suitablemanner, a transve rse lac . said hook-like fastener: 30, to thereby securerand V 7 It will also beun'dera stood that anyothersuitable? or, convenier'it curthere is' shown thereinlai 3 bottom' section r 1 ane1, 35 of. elastic material I capable ofIvertical extension and contraction. To the bottom or free marginal portion of said elasticjsectioriycr panel35 issuitablysecuredthe 1 7 bar 35 may be providediwith eitherftyperof cur-f comparatively rigid bottombar 36'. {The bottom' V 'tain closure securing meansalreadylabove de-J scribed, or in fact any other; suitable" or lcjo nvenient form of securing means; 1t wil1 be ob vious that the above described modified form of curtain closure", will junction in substantially the same .manner as already; hereinbeforedescribedj since theelasticrsection" or panel 35 thereof will,

provide for the elastic tensional stretch whereby the same is per'mittedtobe engagedby thefhold+ ing or; securing means, and whereby, when so, engaged,f,the samei'is held againstiaccidental dis placement or release from its'closed andsecuredi relation to" the garmentcontaining .carrierf cover The novel curtain closure in; the

, first above described ,formthereoi, provides in addition to itsv functional jutilitya very novel'and d e ve a pe r nce ibi i i dls'i psi qn and beauty to "the carrier case, which ;isgveijy desirableespecially in conn'ectionwith the types} nih ofg i d. P in l li s e ti o women. This attractive appearance isefie d bythe shirring :and gathering of the c 7 body ima'teriaL' and{ .-may be also 1 enhanced by panel effects Q attained by laterally; spacing Taddi 9e l- :1@ ti mem ers S s b t een these employed at the side margins of the curtain body.

ible ut substantiallyinelastic material, ,to .the 1 l While the novel curtain closure has been shown and described specifically as employed in hand luggage wardrobe cases, it will be obvious that the same and the principles of construction thereof may also be utilized in other forms of luggage such as various types, sizes and kinds of wardrobe, steamer and automobile trunks and the like.

Changes other than those referred to may, of course, be made in the above described constructions, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:-

1. A luggage carrier comprising a main body section, a cover section pivotally connected to said body section, stays connected to said sections at each side of said carrier for supporting said cover section in the open position thereof, means for supporting garments Within said cover section, a curtain body of textile or like material fixed by one end to said cover section at the free end thereof, laterally spaced elastic straps extending longitudinally from end to end of said curtain body, said straps being anchored at the fixed end of said curtain body, said curtain body being shirred along the location of said elastic straps whereby the same is transversely gathered subject to longitudinal movement with said elastic straps when the latter are stretched or contracted, a substantially rigid bottom bar to which the free ends of said curtain body and said elastic straps are secured, pins projecting from the ends'of said bar, and said stays having slots for releasably receiving the pins of said bar to secure said curtain to said stays at the opposite end thereof with said elastic straps under longitudinally stretched tension and said curtain body in extended closed relation to said cover section.

2. A luggage carrier comprising a main body section, a cover section pivotally connected to said body section, stays connected to said sections at each side of said carrier for supporting said cover section in the open position thereof, means for supporting garments within said cover section, a curtain body fixed by one end to said cover section at the free end thereof, a substantially rigid bottom bar connected with the free end of said curtain body, pins projecting from the ends of said bar, and saidstays having slots for releasably receiving the pins of said bar to secure the free end of said curtain body to said stays and the curtain in extended closed relation to said cover section.

ARY KAUFMANN. 

